Oliveb cooke



Oct. 26 1926. 1,604,880

0. COOKE I BUTTON FOR USE ON WEARING APPAREL AND FOR OTHER USES Filed Dec. 29, 1924 Patented Oct. 26, 1926.

UNTTED STATES OLIVER COOKIE, OF LO'WFIELD HEATH, NEAR CRAWLEY, ENGLAND.

BUTTON FOR USE ON WEARING APPAREL AND FOR OTHER USES.

Application fi1ed December 29, 1924, Serial No. 758,679, and. in Great Britain March 17, 1924.

This invention relates to improvements in or relating to buttons for ise on wearing apparel and for other uses and it relates more particularly to such buttons as are covered with fabric or like material.

irccording to the invention the button is made of two blanks either one or both of which are covered with fabric or the like; a shell or front blank having a shank at tachcd thereto and a back or rear blank adapted to fit within the shell, the shank serving the double purpose of securing the two parts and the fabric together and also as a means for securing the button to the garment or other article.

A. preferred form of carrying out the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. l is a perspective view of the shell or front blank of the button according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the back plate or rear blank.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing one means for facilitating the assembly of parts and the formation of the button on a wooden block.

Fig. 4c is a perspective View, and

Figs. 5 and 6 are plan views illustrating a modification of my invention.

In the preferred form as illustrated, the button according to the invention comprises a shell or front blank 1, and a back plate or rear blank 2, both of which may be of sheet metal or any other convenient material. The shell or front blank 1, consists of a disc or the like having a lip or flange 3, at its periphery. The disc may be flat dished, dome-shipped, or halfball or any other convenient shape. A rearwardly extending shank i, which preferably may be formed of a piece of soft metal Wire, such as for example copper, is riveted, soldered or otherwise suitably secured to the centre of the shell or front blank. Sa d shank 4 is formed into a loop or the like, the two ends of which are secured in the manner described to the centre of t is discs, the loop portion projecting at right angles therefrom. The back plate or rear blank 2, also consists of a disc and may be dished and provided with a similar peripheral lip or flange 3'. This back blank is provided with a central hole 5 pierced therein, the sides of which may taper, and the diameter of which is such as to permit the two arms of the looped shank 4: to pass through it. The back plate or rear blank 2 is of slightly smaller size than the shell or front plate 1, so as to allow for the thickness of the fabric or material with which it is proposed to cover the button in a manner to be described.

The assembly of the parts and the covering of the shell or front blank with any suitable fabric or material may be eifected as follows. A suitably dished wooden block as indicated at 6 in 3 of the drawings, is provided, the upper surface of which is dished to conform approximately to the shape of the shell or front blank of the button. A piece of fabric 7, cut to approximately the shape of the shell or front blank 1, is placed on the block 6, over the dished face of said block, and the shell of front blank 1, is pressed into the recess formed by said dished face, the shank l, extending upwardly therefrom as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The edges of the fabric 7, are then gathered together in any convenient manner and folded inwards towards the upstanding shank 4. If desired the edges of the fabric may be secured by stitching, although this will generally not be necessary. The back plate or rear blank 2 is then inserted over the shank 4-, the shank passing through the hole 5, and is then forced down into the shell or front blank by hand, care of course being taken that the edges of the fabric are completely enclosed by said back, plate or rear blank, and that suiiicient pressure is employed to ensure that the fabric is tightly engaged between the edge of said back plate, and the peripheral flange of said shell or front blank. The loop of the shank is then opened or splayed outwards, so that the arms thereof tightly engage the walls of the hole 5, thus holding the two blanks in secure assembled relation and the fabric tightly stretched over the face of the front plate or blank 1. This opening outwards or splaying apart of the arms of the loop forming the shank 4;, may be accomplished in any convenient manner, such as the insertion of any suitably tapered pointed tool or rod, but I have found that for more rapid production a pair of tongs having pointed jaws adapted to fit within the loop when in closed position, and to open outwards on a closing action being applied to the handles in the usual manner, is preferable.

It will be understood that whilst I have lltl described one means for the assembly and retention in secure relation of the parts iorming my button according to the invention. it is not intended that I should; be limited to the means described in the toregoing, as many modifications for securing the Tll'Oill) and back plates will readily occur, and fall within the scope of the invention. As an example of one such modification, the circular hole 5 shown in the drawings in the back plate or blank may be re 'ilaceil as shown in Fig. 5 by a slot 5 or two slots 5)" by a slot or the like, and the wire shank instead ofbeing in the form of a loop may have two ends as shown at 4 in big. 4, proecting rearwardly from the front plate or shell 1, said ends being passed through said slot, and twisted until the coils of said ends or arms engage the edges of said slot or slots 5" securely holding the parts in proper assembled relation.

Further it will of course be understood that whilst I have described, and shown in the drawings my invention as relating to buttons of circular shape, any other shape may equally well be made in the same manner preferably a separate mould beingprovided for each shape, so that the front plate oi the button may fit easily within the mould and so ensure that the "fabric employed smoothly covers the front plate without wrinkling or distortion.

Further although I have found the employment of a mould as described to be a satisfactory and convenient methodof holding the parts whilst securing them in assembled relation, it is not my intention that the 7 invention should be limited to this means, other means tor the same end may be employed.

It will be seen therefore that the inven tion provices a rapid and efiieient means for the, economical production of buttons of the type described.

1 claim: 7

1. A button comprising a front blank having a rearwardly extending U-shaped shank secured thereto, a rear blank having an opening through which said shank extends, anda fabric cover on the front blank and haying its two sides arranged and gripped between the blanks, said shank haying widened eye portion which grips the rear blank and causes the shank to socurely hold the blanks and the fabric together.

2. A button comprising a "front blank having a rearwardly extending U-shaped shank secured thereto, a rear blank having an opening through which said shank e tends, and a fabric cover on the front blank and having its, two sides arranged and gripped between the blanks, said shank having a widened eye portion which grips the rear blank and causes the shank to securely hold the blanks and the fabric together, said front blank also having arearwardly extending flange and saidrear blank having a forwardly extending flange of less di ameter than that of the front blank to receive the fabric therebetween.

In witness whereof I' affix my signature.

OLIVER COOKE. 

